Route 66 c. 2012 - The Photography of Frank Romeo

Monday, January 21, 2013

New Mexico Route 66 - Grants

GRANTS, NEW MEXICO. The Sands Motel, one block off old 66 in Grants. Special Route 66 alert: Elvis slept here!

New Mexico Route 66 - San Fidel

SAN FIDEL, NEW MEXICO. Route 66 once had 40 or so Whiting Brothers gas stations, and I believe there is just one still operating, in Moriarty, New Mexico. I followed the arrow here, but found no groceries, no motel, and no gas.

New Mexico Route 66

NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66. A fun portion of 66 west of Mesita, near the famous Owl Rock and Dead Man's Curve. Some serious Southwestern scenery here.

New Mexico Route 66 - Rio Puerco

The steel truss Rio Puerco bridge has a concrete deck resting on steel stringers, built to withstand the river below which had a habit of washing away lesser bridges. It was completed in 1934 and carried traffic until it was replaced in 1999. You can walk across it now, with the busy interstate bridge on one side of you, and the calmer replacement Route 66 bridge on the other.

Monday, December 31, 2012

New Mexico Route 66 - Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. Classic Art Deco and neon diner on Route 66. The 66 Diner started out as a Phillips 66 gas station and was converted to a "Streamline Modern" style diner in 1987. The restaurant only serves breakfast on weekends, so my Tuesday morning visit resulted in pictures but no pancakes.

New Mexico Route 66 - Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. The Premier Motel, located across the street from the Aztec Court. Tough choice if the kids were allowed to decide where to stay based on the neon welcome signs.

New Mexico Route 66 - Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. Aztec Court, 1932 - 2011. In 1937, Route 66 bypassed Santa Fe and took over from New Mexico 6, a more direct road from Santa Rosa. This increased traffic on Central Avenue, and close to 100 motels were built between downtown Albuquerque and the city's historic Nob Hill neighborhood, including the Aztec. The old motor court was demolished in 2011 when it became just too expensive to restore. Only the neon sign remains.

New Mexico Route 66 - Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. Pioneer Motel on Central Avenue (old 66), with some fashionably tilted neon.

New Mexico Route 66 - Albuquerque

"We ought to make Albuquerque easy by tonight." Porky Pig to Sylvester the Cat, "Jumpin Jupiter" cartoon. And so said countless fathers to their wives and children on old Route 66 in the 1950's.

New Mexico Route 66 - Santa Fe

Santa Fe adobe, sepia. From 2010

Santa Fe Street Scene, sepia. From 2010

Adobe window and lamp, sepia. From 2010.

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. The old city captured in sepia.

New Mexico Route 66 - Santa Fe

The cross and bell tower of the San Miguel Chapel, 2010

Santa Fe street light and adobe wall, 2010

Santa Fe, 2010

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. More adobe architecture.

New Mexico Route 66 - Santa Fe

Santa Fe adobe restaurant, 2010

Native American pottery in a Santa Fe market, 2010

A Santa Fe adobe shop, 2010

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. I took the more direct later alignment of Route 66 on this 2012 trip, in which the old road runs on and alongside Interstate 40 through the little towns of Clines Corners, Moriarty, and Tijeras. On two previous trips, however, I did make the turn north on Highway 84 (old 66) to Santa Fe, and the New Mexico capital is such a unique American city that it must be included in any Route 66 report.

New Mexico Route 66 - Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO. Our Lady of Sorrows Church, sepia.

New Mexico Route 66 - Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO. A short hop from old 66 on the way to Santa Fe there is a Las Vegas just a little less famous than the one in Nevada. The Plaza Hotel in town was called "The Belle of the Southwest" when it was built in 1882, and there just has to be an Old West card game going on inside. From 2010.